COVID-19 News And Updates

Country’s government failed to impose extra restrictions despite warnings of a new, more dangerous strain in early March, experts claim See all our coronavirus coverage A panel of Indian scientists warned officials in early March of a new and more contagious variant of the coronavirus taking hold in the country, it has emerged. Despite the warning, four of the scientists said the federal government did not seek to impose major restrictions to stop the spread of the virus, Reuters reported on Saturday. Millions of largely unmasked people attended religious festivals and political rallies that were held by prime minister Narendra Modi, leaders of the ruling Bharatiya Janata party and opposition politicians. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Suitable prevention measures urgently needed, say researchers, with larger households highlighted as a factor Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage People in the UK’s south Asian communities were more likely to test positive for Covid, become severely ill and die than any other minority ethnic group in the country’s second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new study. During the first wave from February to September 2020, the paper in the Lancet medical journal found, all minority ethnic groups had a higher risk than the white community of testing positive for Covid, ending up in hospital, being admitted to intensive care, and dying, after accounting for any underlying health conditions. But in the second wave, from September to December 2020, minority ethnic groups did better – except for the south Asian communities. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Several thousand people went clubbing in Liverpool without Covid measures as part of a pilot to see whether social distancing measures can be eased without triggering new coronavirus outbreaks. The afternoon-admission gig was part of a series of pilot events sponsored by the UK government where attendees, all Liverpool residents, were expected to be tested before and after the event, while researchers studied air quality in the venue Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Three thousand people attend the First Dance, a day rave organised to test the safety of large events Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage “Last night we were all saying that we felt like kids on Christmas Eve,” said Olivia Hall, a 19-year-old student describing a conversation between herself and her friends. “We were all sat last night watching the telly thinking: ‘Oh God, we don’t want to go to sleep because we’re not going to sleep,’ we were all lying in bed too excited.” Hall and her friends were some of the first to arrive at an empty warehouse on the outskirts of Liverpool city centre, which, with the help of a thumping sound system and LED lights, had been transformed into a day rave for 3,000 people. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

This is about so much more than wallpaper. A pattern of lying, betrayal and callousness is ruining lives Yes, it’s a real scandal. Despite the apparent absurdity of a Westminster village obsessing over soft furnishings and the precise class connotations of the John Lewis brand, there is a hard offence underneath all those cushions and throws. By refusing to tell us who first paid for the refurbishment of his Downing Street flat, Boris Johnson is denying us – his boss – the right to know who he owes and what hold they might have on him. Offence is the right word because, even before the Electoral Commission determines whether the law on political funding was broken, Johnson’s failure to come clean may well be, by itself, a breach of the ministerial code . That bars not only actual conflicts of interest between ministers’ “public duties and their private interests” but even the perception of such conflicts. In refusing to tell us who first paid that bill for overpriced wallpaper, or

Leading UK expert says loss of funding certain to damage attempts to tackle virus and variants Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Vital coronavirus research, including a project tracking variants in India, has had its funding reduced by up to 70% under swingeing cuts to the UK overseas aid budget. One of Britain’s leading infectious disease experts said the UK government cuts were certain to damage attempts to tackle the virus and track new variants. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

GDP in the 19 economies sharing the euro shrank by 0.6% between January and March Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The eurozone fell back into recession in the first three months of the year, as a slow vaccination drive and tougher restrictions to stem a third coronavirus wave damaged the region’s economies. GDP in the 19 economies sharing the euro shrank by 0.6% between January and March compared with the previous quarter, according to figures from Eurostat , the EU’s statistical office. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Countries across Europe are starting to relax coronavirus restrictions as case numbers fall Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Counting on an accelerating vaccination campaign to keep new infections in check, much of continental Europe has announced plans for a gradual exit from lockdown over the coming weeks as case numbers begin to fall. Here is where things stand: Belgium (at least one vaccine dose administered to 25% of whole population) aims to permit outside dining in restaurants and bars again on 8 May, with a mandatory 10pm closing time and tables limited to groups of four. Non-essential shops and hairdressers reopened on Monday. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The Coalition is considering using the Biosecurity Act to make it illegal for Australians to come home if they have recently been in a high-risk country The Morrison government is exploring the extraordinary option of making it a criminal offence for Australians to return home from Covid hotspots overseas. The move comes after two Australian cricketers who had been in India returned home on Thursday after transiting through Qatar, despite the government earlier in the week banning all direct flights from Covid-ravaged India. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

‘Situation is out of control’ as cases spike and hospitals run short of beds and oxygen Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Doctors in Nepal have warned that the country is facing a similar devastating wave of Covid-19 as neighbouring India , with border districts already reporting an alarming spike in cases and shortage of hospital beds and oxygen. In the Banke district of Nepal, bordering India, doctors at Bheri hospital said it was turning into a “mini India”, with coronavirus spreading out of control. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Festival regulars are poised to secure pitches when booking lines open Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The announcement that a farmer in the English West Country is opening up his fields as a campsite for a few weeks in the summer does not usually cause a stir. But when booking lines open for one site on Saturday, pitches at Worthy Pastures are expected to be snapped up. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Small number have died after being vaccinated, mostly having caught virus before dose could take effect A small number of people vaccinated against Covid have been admitted to hospital with the disease and died, researchers have found, but most were frail and elderly and caught the virus before the jab could have taken effect. Scientists say their findings are reassuring. They bear out the conclusions of trials of the vaccines in use in the UK, which show the jabs are highly effective but do not protect everyone. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Observers say the Sputnik V jab is aimed more at sowing political division than fighting coronavirus Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine has yet to win EU regulatory approval and is likely to play little part in the bloc’s rollout, but it has already achieved what some observers say is one of its objectives – sowing division among, and within, member states. “Sputnik V has become a tool of soft power for Russia,” said Michal Baranowski, a fellow with a US thinktank, the German Marshall Fund of the United States. “It’s planted its flag on the vaccine and the political goal of its strategy is to divide the west.” Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

As bodies pile up at the Ghazipur crematorium, staff and relatives turn their ire on the Modi government Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The bodies came, one after another, after another, after another. So many bodies that the ambulances and trucks carrying them into the cemetery blocked traffic. In Delhi, a city where someone dies from Covid-19 every four minutes, every day is a battle not just for hospital beds but for a space to say goodbye to the dead with dignity. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Norman Fowler, health secretary under Thatcher, says ‘let’s have an inquiry and let’s do it now’ Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The Lord Speaker, Norman Fowler, has said a public inquiry into how the Covid pandemic was handled by the government should be set up “as soon as possible” and should not be delayed. Lord Fowler, who was a cabinet minister under Margaret Thatcher for 11 years and is a former Conservative party chair, said: “I would support those saying we need an inquiry into … whether there was a delay in lockdown because if there was we need to know why.” Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The longer the wait, the greater the danger that the next unexpected health crisis will be mishandled It is time for a public inquiry. The coronavirus crisis has been an extraordinary period for the UK, and the toll substantial. More than 127,000 people have died, children have lost years of education, and we have seen the largest drop in GDP since consistent records began more than half a century ago. There have been myriad other harms to individual livelihoods, and to wellbeing. Much of this flows from decisions made in Whitehall. While the government has done some things well – the vaccine programme is an undisputed success so far – there are sincere, legitimate questions about many of its other choices. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Jes Staley says bank continues to take ‘cautious view’ of impact of Covid-19 pandemic Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The UK economy is on course for its biggest economic boom since 1948 as the country’s vaccination programme allows consumers to go out and spend, according to the chief executive of Barclays. Jes Staley predicted the strongest year for economic growth since the aftermath of the second world war, at 6.5% this year, as “tremendous pent-up demand” built up during the pandemic is released. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Quarterly results from Anglo-Swedish producer of Covid vaccine show better-than-expected 15% rise Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage AstraZeneca has generated $275m (£197m) in revenues from its Covid vaccine in the first three months of the year and shipped 48m doses to 120 countries through the global vaccine-sharing initiative Covax. Most of the vaccine sales ($224m) were in Europe – as the Anglo-Swedish drugmaker reported overall quarterly revenues up 15% to $7.3bn, better than analysts had expected. New medicines, such as the diabetes drug Farxiga, contributed more than half of revenues. The firm made a pre-tax profit of $1.6bn, up 72% year-on-year. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Remote learning has made it harder for school staff to pick up on clues that students lack permanent housing. New federal funding is meant to help re-establish contact Portia and her two boys were living at the St Ambrose Family Shelter in Dorchester, Massachusetts, located in an old Catholic church, when the pandemic hit. To protect her family from the virus, she moved in with her mother in a one-bedroom apartment. But with a baby brother in the same room and unreliable wifi, 13-year-old Quentin began to struggle in school. Then the landlord threatened to evict them, calling the arrangement a fire hazard. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Latest updates: Lord Ricketts says ‘you can’t rule out’ hostile states or criminal gangs also having PM’s number, which was available online Boris Johnson’s phone number should be more secure, says security expert Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage 9.34am BST And in Northern Ireland there are some slots now available for people aged 30 to 34 to book a coronavirus vaccine, the Department of Health there has announced. Aged 30 to 34? Early opportunity to book a #Covid19 vaccine. The vaccination programme has some limited availability for those aged 30 to 34. Booking opens at 10.00am. https://t.co/oDAiZ4nELN pic.twitter.com/n5WtaJIEyb In less than five months we have vaccinated almost one million people, and thousands of our citizens have been able to receive the vaccine well ahead of schedule. I know that we all long for a sustainable return to more normal times and vaccination offers the best hope for this. Uptake is very encouraging, and I’m p

Fair Work Commission finding that nursing home was ‘prudent and reasonable’ could have implications for Covid vaccination The Fair Work Commission has upheld the sacking of an aged care worker who refused a flu vaccine, the second time in a month it has found that an employer can require staff to be vaccinated. In her unfair dismissal claim, the former receptionist at Imlay House in Pambula, New South Wales, Jennifer Kimber, said she had had an adverse reaction to a flu vaccine in 2016 and produced a note from a practitioner of Chinese medicine who prescribed her “immune boosting herbs”. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Our latest snapshot of key economic indicators finds business activity booming, but borrowing reaching record levels UK economy builds momentum as Covid restrictions ease Angel Gurria: overhaul of global tax system can wait no longer OECD: Biden offers ‘once in a lifetime’ chance to end tax abuse Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Confirmed cases rose to more than 386,000 in one day while 3,498 people died in the past 24 hours Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The first US emergency aid to India has arrived as the country battles a devastating surge in Covid-19 cases which has overwhelmed hospitals and crematoriums . A Super Galaxy military transporter carrying more than 400 oxygen cylinders and other hospital equipment and nearly 1m rapid coronavirus tests landed at Delhi’s international airport on Friday. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Vaccine offered to all over 40s in England; first US Covid emergency aid supplies arrive in India ; UK temporarily reduces international aid from £14.5bn to £10bn Rapid spread of India Covid variant in UK is ‘worrying’, say scientists Ministers among main routes for Covid PPE deal ‘VIP’ channel, court hears See all our coronavirus coverage 5.34am BST People aged 40 and over in England are now being invited to book their coronavirus jab, NHS leaders have announced. NHS England said that text messages will be sent out from Friday to 40 and 41-year-olds allowing them to arrange their vaccination appointments, PA media reports. It follows nearly 750,000 appointments being made on Monday and Tuesday after the vaccine rollout was extended to people aged 42 to 44, it added. 5.13am BST The United Kingdom said Thursday it is temporarily reducing its international aid from £14.5bn (about $20bn) last year to £10bn this year ($14bn) because of the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandem

Only a public inquiry will reveal how the government’s attitude affected pandemic policy Lydia Brian is a member of the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group When my sister told me that my dad may not be coming off his ventilator, I didn’t believe her. I insisted on speaking to the doctors myself. How could someone so fit and healthy be beaten by this virus? He cycled all the time, and he ran marathons all over the world when he was younger. And then suddenly I was by his hospital bedside. I know it was a blessing that we even got to be with him, but dressed in our protective gear, it felt like something out of a horror movie. As I cried, tears smeared my goggles. Snot ran into my mask. My stepmum (“bonus mum”) tried to rest her face by his, but her visor kept getting in the way. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Chief executive, to be made peer, says it has been his ‘privilege’ to lead service through one of its toughest challenges Simon Stevens is to step down as chief executive of NHS England at the end of July, the health service said, while No 10 said he would be made a peer. A statement said: “The Queen has been pleased to confer a peerage of the United Kingdom for life on Sir Simon Stevens, upon him stepping down as chief executive of NHS England.” Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Daily vaccination numbers drop from 3.4m two weeks ago to 2.7m this week while Biden says 220m shots given in his first 100 days US states are moving to lift mask requirements and other restrictions as new coronavirus cases drop sharply, even as the Biden administration grapples with a slowdown in vaccination rates and runaway infections in other parts of the world. In his joint address to Congress on Wednesday night Joe Biden basked in the glow of having beaten his own promises on Covid-19. He said that 220m Covid shots had been given in his first 100 days, while death rates among seniors from the disease were down 80% on January levels. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Airline cites research that suggests overseas holidays would have little impact on hospital admissions Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage EasyJet has urged the UK government to declare most of Europe “green” when it publishes its list of permitted destinations for the summer, citing research that suggests travel would have a very limited impact on the number of people admitted to hospital with Covid in the UK. The airline said analysis showed mass travel to popular destinations such as Spain, Portugal and Greece would not affect the UK’s Covid case rate, and would risk a small number of hospital admissions. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Vaccinations, round of stimulus and a steady recovery in the jobs market helped reverse some of the impact of the pandemic The US economy took off in the first quarter soaring 6.4% as rising vaccinations, a massive round of government stimulus and a steady recovery in the jobs market helped reverse some of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. The annualized rate, released by the Commerce Department on Thursday, suggests the US economy is firmly on the road to recovery. In normal times the US economy grows at about 2-2.5% a year but the pandemic triggered wild swings as the country went into lockdown and businesses shuttered. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Huge surge in cases followed erroneous ‘supermodelling’ study suggesting herd immunity had been achieved They will be remembered as India’s lost months: the stretch between September and February when Covid-19 cases in the country defied global trends, falling sharply throughout the coldest months of the year until they reached four-figure daily totals. It was inexplicable. Was it the Indian climate? A protection conferred by childhood immunisations? Some speculated India may have naturally reached herd immunity. It was a tantalising idea that took hold in India’s highest circles of policymaking, media and science – even a government-commissioned study suggested herd immunity may indeed have been achieved. It would prove one of the most fatal miscalculations of the Covid-19 pandemic so far. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

ONS says 83% of businesses are now trading, a rise of six percentage points since late March Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Workers are starting to come off furlough as a surge in spending by UK consumers allows businesses to start reopening after their long winter shutdown, according to the latest official snapshot of the economy. In its weekly digest of the latest indicators of activity, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that the proportion of the workforce on furlough of all businesses dropped from 17% to 13% during April. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

BioNTech submitting applications in US and Europe for vaccine to be available to those aged 12-15 Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine, jointly developed with Pfizer, should be available to 12- to 15-year-olds in Europe from June, the chief executive of the German company has said. Uğur Şahin said BioNTech had submitted its application for emergency approval of vaccines for this age group in the US at the start of April, and next Wednesday would be ready to submit the application for approval by the European Medicines Agency. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The UK health secretary, Matt Hancock,  received his first dose of the AstraZeneca Covid vaccine on Thursday. The jab was administered by the deputy chief medical officer for England, Jonathan Van-Tam. Hancock said: 'This is my first jab, the first one. The Queen, she said it doesn't hurt a bit. And so, you know, I trust the Queen' Coronavirus live updates Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Minister says materials are ‘commercially sensitive’ amid concern over service’s performance Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The government has been criticised for refusing to make public the training materials call handlers in the NHS 111 coronavirus response service (CRS) were given at the start of the pandemic, on the grounds that they are “commercially sensitive”. Kate Osamor, the Labour MP who warned last year that the 111 service “simply couldn’t cope” with the huge number of people needing advice for Covid-19 symptoms, condemned the refusal as an “insult” to families whose relatives have died from the virus. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The Covid crisis has ushered in a new era of state intervention. The question is: to whose benefit? Thirteen years after the financial crisis put the global economy on life support, neoliberal capitalism is facing an existential crisis. The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the disastrous consequences of decades of privatisation, deregulation and outsourcing. In order to contain the economic fallout from the pandemic, western countries have ripped up the neoliberal playbook. Market forces have been shunned in favour of regulatory controls and state intervention. Central banks have broken the ultimate economic taboo and are printing money to finance ballooning budget deficits. For the first time in decades, the direction of travel for corporate tax rates is up rather than down . Even the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has thrown its weight behind wealth taxes. As Guardian columnist Larry Elliott recently put it : “the era of small states, low taxes and balanced budgets suddenly looks

PM makes solo visit to memorial wall despite families asking him for weeks to meet them there Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Boris Johnson has made a solo visit under cover of darkness to the National Covid Memorial Wall, infuriating bereaved families who have been asking for weeks for him to “walk the wall” and meet them there. Johnson was spotted at the wall on Tuesday night, just a day after allegations, which he denies, that he made remarks to the effect he would rather “ bodies pile high ” than announce another lockdown. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Latest updates: vaccines minister suggests officials would be to blame if Johnson had failed to declare donations to cover original refurb cost Labour calls for wholly independent investigator into flat refurb ‘Cash for curtains’: Boris Johnson furious as inquiry launched into refurb Analysis: how much trouble is Johnson in? ‘Interior resign’: what the papers say Johnson puts his interests before staff’s wellbeing, says union head 10.36am BST Yesterday, when Downing Street announced the appointment of Lord Geidt as the new independent adviser on ministers’ interests, it also confirmed modest changes designed to give the adviser more authority. But the reforms do not go as far as those proposed by the chair of the committee on standards in public life, and this morning Labour’s Liz Kendall said the adviser was still not properly independent. Kendall, the shadow social care minister, told the Today programme: It’s not just that Johnson would be marking his own homework [under

China’s recovery from pandemic helps figures although spending on beauty and personal care ‘subdued’ Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Unilever’s underlying sales grew in the first three months of 2021 as locked-down consumers continued to keep their kitchen cupboards well stocked, and China’s economy began to “normalise”. The owner of brands ranging from Ben & Jerry’s to Marmite reported on Thursday that sales increased by 5.7% in the first quarter compared to 2020 once the effects of currency moves and changes to its collection of brands were stripped out. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Some lawmakers and businesses are in favor of vaccine verification, but civil liberties and privacy questions abound With summer around the corner, Americans are desperate for some sense of normalcy as the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine continues. Some businesses and lawmakers believe they have a simple solution that will allow people to gather in larger numbers again: vaccine passports. But as with so many issues in the US these days, it’s an idea dividing America. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

People in India or with relatives there describe their experiences of the country’s coronavirus surge Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage “It’s like we are in the middle of the apocalypse,” says 40-year-old Pia Desai, who lives in New Delhi, at the centre of the coronavirus crisis that has brought India’s healthcare system to its knees. “Every family I know has been affected by Covid. It’s like a horror movie, everywhere you turn someone is asking for medicine, help with a hospital bed, food, plasma. It doesn’t matter who you are right now, you won’t get a hospital bed.” Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

They were meant to be among the first Australians to be vaccinated, but more than 25,000 disability accommodation residents are still waiting Australia’s disability royal commission will investigate the Covid vaccine rollout amid complaints that disability accommodation residents and care workers are facing long waits for jabs – despite being in the top priority phase 1a group. The Morrison government has been facing increasing criticism over the low numbers of residents vaccinated so far, with peak bodies, the opposition and a former disability discrimination commissioner claiming it had failed to prioritise disability care . Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Like one of Fitzgerald’s characters, the PM is so insulated by privilege that he will never see the wreckage strewn behind him While writing his last novel, F Scott Fitzgerald reminded himself of one fundamental truth by putting it in big block capitals: ACTION IS CHARACTER. And through Boris Johnson’s actions what has been exposed over these past few weeks is his character in office. None of the usual talking points otherwise do justice to the display before us. Not “sleaze”, that quaint 1990s term with its chortlesome memories of David Mellor in a Chelsea kit. Not cod psychology about Dominic Cummings , however thrilled tranches of the press are at the return of their favourite panto villain, alongside his remarkably quotable friends. And certainly not yawping about the lack of “cut-through” by commentators too focused on byelections to see this is squarely about the morality of the man who runs this country. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Funeral directors say up to 2,000 bodies await burial or cremation in warehouses at Prima Porta cemetery Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Steps away from a warehouse containing row upon row of coffins at Prima Porta cemetery in Rome, anger simmered among a group of about 12 funeral workers queueing up outside the administrative office. Some were there to deliver bodies for burial or cremation, others to collect the ashes of the deceased cremated months ago. “It’s a tragic, shameful situation,” said Maurizio, a funeral company worker. “Just look around you – we’re all waiting. They blame it on coronavirus, but that’s just an excuse. This is how it is every day.” Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Analysis: some in China see India’s crisis as a diplomatic opportunity but tensions from last summer remain high As coronavirus rages across India, its neighbour China has made repeated offers of help. Some are asking whether this could be an occasion to ease the tense relations between the world’s two most populous countries following last year’s border skirmishes . China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, said this week that Beijing was “ready to provide support and assistance to the Indian people at any time according to the needs of India”. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in Delhi said it would “encourage and instruct Chinese companies to actively cooperate”. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Nearly 1 in 50 people worldwide have had Covid; third of Mexicans show exposure to coronavirus; Cambodia reports national record new cases Facebook blocked hashtag calling for Narendra Modi to resign over pandemic Arundhati Roy on India’s Covid catastrophe Explainer: why is getting medical oxygen for Covid patients in some countries so difficult? See all our coronavirus coverage 4.28am BST Hello and welcome to today’s live coverage of the coronavirus pandemic with me, Helen Sullivan . As always, you can find me on Twitter @helenrsullivan . Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Australia’s drug regulator refuses to confirm whether death of 55-year-old in Tamworth and a man in his 7os in Sydney are being investigated Comparing US and UK Covid case numbers suggests Australia’s India flight ban based on ‘fear factor’ Follow the Australia liveblog Australia’s drug regulator and the New South Wales health department will not confirm whether two deaths that occurred after vaccination with the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine are being investigated, saying only that they are “aware” of the cases. On Thursday the Northern Daily Leader reported that a man in the northern NSW city of Tamworth had died in hospital on 21 April from blood clots in his lungs, which developed after he received the vaccine. And the ABC reported that a man in his 70s had died in Sydney after receiving the vaccine, but did not name the cause of the man’s death. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

As India’s hospitals struggle to keep pace with demand, the pandemic has exposed global market failures, lack of knowledge and anticipation Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage New waves of the Covid-19 pandemic in countries, such as India and Kenya have exposed the poor management of oxygen supplies. Prof Trevor Duke, editor of the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines on oxygen therapy for children, answered questions on what countries with limited resources can do to secure better supplies. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Crematoriums in Delhi forced to build makeshift funeral pyres on spare patches of land as Covid death toll surges Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage India has suffered its worst day yet of the pandemic , as both new Covid-19 cases and deaths break previous records and crematoriums in Delhi become so overloaded with bodies that they are being forced to build makeshift funeral pyres on spare patches of land. On Wednesday morning, India reported 360,960 new cases in the previous 24 hours, the largest single-day increase in the world, taking India’s total to nearly 18 million. A further 3,293 deaths, the deadliest day so far, took the death toll to 201,187. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

From live streams of new plays to classics from the archive, here are some of the top shows online now or coming soon The stage on screen: our guide to films about theatre When Jimbo first meets Declan at his Nan’s birthday party, the sausage rolls go flying. Declan wants to dance with him but Jimbo’s dad would never allow that. After a year of intense friendship, Declan disappears. Was it murder, suicide or kidnap? This monologue, written and performed by Alistair Hall, is a compelling account of loss and sexual discovery. On YouTube until 9 May. Read the full review . Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Foreign Office says Britain ‘first out of the blocks’ with help but Labour calls it a drop in the ocean Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The UK has been “the first out of the blocks” with help for India, but will not send vaccines to the Covid-ravaged country until Britain has surplus supplies, the Foreign Office minister Nigel Adams has told MPs. He said the UK was responding to the Indian government’s needs, and had been the first country to provide practical support “in the face of heartbreaking scenes that had shocked us all”. He said he had friends of Indian heritage who were “at their wit’s end”, and vowed the UK would be at the forefront in providing aid. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Grosvenor Group blames impact of Covid-19 for pre-tax loss of £311m, its worst performance since 2008 The Duke of Westminster’s property company, Grosvenor Group, swung to a pre-tax loss in 2020, its worst performance since 2008, but still paid a £47bn dividend to the duke’s family and its trusts. The privately-owned group, which includes some of the most famous addresses in Mayfair and Belgravia in London, reported a £311m pre-tax loss last year, compared with a pre-tax profit of almost £157m in 2019, as it recorded a slide in the value of its global property portfolio and gave rent reductions to some of its tenants during the pandemic. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Mauro Morandi had to leave his solitary island life. Having been cooped up with others for months, it could be appealing It was poignant to read of 81-year-old Mauro Morandi’s decision to leave Budelli , the island off Sardinia that had been his home for more than 30 years, following threats of eviction. He had been nicknamed “Italy’s Robinson Crusoe”, having ended up there simply by chance, after his catamaran broke down while attempting to sail to the South Pacific. The island’s caretaker happened to be retiring, and Morandi loved the place so much that he decided to stay and assume the role; until now. There’s something so sad about hearing of a person torn from their idyll, when they have sought out and built for themselves a life of solitude. Though we may not all be natural hermits, I think many of us understand that, for some people, constant social interaction can be draining and even painful, a source of anxiety rather than pleasure. Books such as Quiet: The Power of Introve

President to mark 100 days in office with address to lawmakers Fewer than half of members of Congress to attend in person White House announces sweeping plan for childcare and pre-school 2.32pm BST In Biden’s address to Congress tonight, he is expected to touch on issues including Covid-19, immigration and the president’s sweeping plan to reshape the economy’s social infrastructure, the American Families Plan. Biden last night unveiled the $1.8tn plan to invest in a national childcare program, universal preschool, tuition-free community college, health insurance subsidies and tax cuts for low- and middle-income workers. Related: White House announces sweeping $1.8tn plan for childcare and universal preschool 1.55pm BST Good morning and welcome to the US politics live blog. Joe Biden today will deliver his first joint address to Congress on Wednesday night, marking his first 100 days in office . This will function different from past presidential addresses to Congress becau

Largest US employer could have saved 133 lives with policy as workers fear calling in sick could lead to firing, advocates say More than 7,500 Covid-19 infections and 133 deaths could have been prevented if Walmart offered employees two weeks of paid sick leave, according to a report released on Wednesday. The public health not-for-profit Human Impact Partners calculated the impact that better paid sick leave could have had for employees of Walmart, the largest employer in the US, using findings from the University of Wisconsin that universal sick leave could lead to a nearly 6% reduction in coronavirus infections and deaths for workers in Wisconsin. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

International travellers will be asked to demonstrate their Covid vaccination and testing status using the NHS smartphone app, the UK government has confirmed, as the transport secretary promised to release a list of possible holiday destinations within a fortnight. Grant Shapps said work had started on developing the app many people use to book appointments with their GPs so that it can show whether they have been vaccinated and tested for the virus  NHS app will be used as Covid ‘vaccine passport’ UK Covid live news Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The proposal is being dismissed in some quarters, but for some older people in England it could be a lifeline One of the abiding memories of the early days of the pandemic was care homes ravaged by coronavirus. A year on, the government has launched a consultation that could lead to staff in facilities for older people in England being required to have a Covid-19 vaccine in a bid to protect vulnerable residents. This would have been a last resort for ministers. It is uncomfortable to mandate any form of healthcare, and more so when you consider it’s disproportionately people of colour and those from deprived backgrounds who are hesitant about the jab. Yet several months on since the vaccine rollout started, evidence shows outreach to reluctant carers isn’t getting through: staff vaccination rates are still below 70% in 27 different local authorities in England despite care workers being in the highest priority category for the jabs. Only about half of care homes have enough people

In part two of our series on the musicians foregrounding hope in their songs, Esperanza Spalding, Rostam and more discuss the importance of positivity I started writing songs after my father died when I was 13. I used music to release the sadness that was flooding my heart and held on to my guitar like it was a float in an ocean. As an artist, I’ve always wanted to provoke chills, because to me that means I’ve connected with the spirit that’s giving me the music. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Latest updates: jabs do not just reduce severity of illness but also decrease virus transmission more than expected Single vaccine dose found to nearly halve transmission NHS app will be used as ‘vaccine passport’ for foreign travel 9.15am BST Good morning. Boris Johnson faces a difficult PMQs later - as Aubrey Allegrett and Jessica Elgot report in their overnight story , pressure is growing for him to offer a proper account of the funding of his Downing Street flat - but there is also a fair amount of coronavirus news around today. The science committee is taking evidence this morning, Matt Hancock, the health secretary, is giving a press conference this afternoon, and overnight Public Health England has published new research on the impact of vaccines on household transmission. Here is an extract from the PHE news release. This new research shows that those who do become infected 3 weeks after receiving one dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or AstraZeneca vaccine were between 38

Grant Shapps says work has started on app many people already use to book GP appointments Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage International travellers will be asked to demonstrate their Covid vaccination and testing status using the NHS smartphone app, the UK government has confirmed, as the transport secretary promised to release a list of possible holiday destinations within a fortnight. Grant Shapps said work had started on developing the app many people use to book appointments with their GPs so that it can show whether they have been vaccinated and tested for the virus. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Jane Halton says there are lessons to be learned from recent Covid outbreaks and best practice adopted Why Australia is under pressure to upgrade advice on Covid’s aerosol transmission The adviser responsible for a major review of the Australian quarantine system says every hotel currently in use should be re-assessed for the risk of aerosol transmission. Jane Halton, a former health department secretary, said states and territories must learn from recent quarantine outbreaks, including in Western Australia, where the Mercure Perth hotel was deemed “high risk” due to its poor ventilation. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Supermarket spent £485m on ‘keeping colleagues and customers safe during the pandemic’ Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Sainsbury’s has dived to a £261m annual loss despite booming sales of groceries during the pandemic as it spent millions of pounds on protecting staff and customers from the coronavirus. The UK’s second biggest supermarket said it had spent £485m on special bonus payments for staff who worked through the pandemic, extra staff to cover those who were isolating, additional safety measures in stores and pay for vulnerable staff who had to stay at home. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Banking group claws back £459m from cash pile meant to cover bad debts Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Earnings at Lloyds Banking Group have surged back, with a forecast-beating £1.9bn in pre-tax profits for the first quarter, as the lender released hundreds of millions of pounds worth of loan loss provisions originally earmarked for potential defaults linked to the coronavirus pandemic. Lloyds released £459m from a cash pile meant to cover bad debts in the first three months of the year, in stark contrast to the £1.4bn charge it took at the start of the outbreak in 2020. The banking group put aside a total of £4.2bn last year, amid fears that business and personal customers would fail to keep up with their loan payments. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Donating doses to countries such as India would tackle soaring death toll and curb new variants, experts say Opinion: leaders must ensure vaccines aren’t the preserve of the rich Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Leading scientists are urging the UK to share the Covid vaccines it has bought with India and other nations, to tackle the soaring death toll and reduce the spread of the virus and new variants around the world. Sir Jeremy Farrar, the director of the Wellcome Trust, said rich countries including the UK that have bought up most of the vaccine supply “urgently need to start sharing these doses with the rest of the world, alongside national rollouts in their own countries, and through the Covax programme. And they must set out a timetable for how these donations will be increased as they vaccinate more of their populations domestically.” Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

If those who can afford to share treatments and equipment choose not to, this pandemic will drag on for all of us Report: leading scientists urge UK to share Covid vaccines with poorer nations Dr Jeremy Farrar is director of the Wellcome Trust, a global charitable foundation In the last few days, major powers have responded to the horrific crisis unfolding in India. The US government’s decision to share 10m vaccine doses within weeks, and up to 50m more over the summer, is welcome and urgently needed. New Zealand, Norway and France have also responded to the demand for vaccines to be shared fairly around the world. But frankly, no country is acting on the scale that is necessary. This pandemic is a long way from over. The scenes in India , where Covid-19 continues to overwhelm health systems and sink the economy, are harrowing. In many countries, hospitals are flooded with patients and face shortages of vital medical supplies. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

The World Health Organization is sending extra staff and supplies to India to help fight the coronavirus pandemic, says the WHO chief, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, adding: ’WHO is doing everything we can, providing critical equipment and supplies, including thousands of oxygen concentrators, prefabricated mobile field hospitals and laboratory supplies.’ An extra 2,600 WHO staff members are going to India to help support the effort to fight the disease WHO blames ‘perfect storm’ of factors for India Covid crisis India’s Covid crisis: Delhi crematoriums forced to build makeshift pyres Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

As supplies run low during a devastating second Covid wave, a civilian army has stepped into the breach Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage For more than two weeks the calls have kept on coming, sometimes over 1,000 a day. The voices on the end of Mohit Arora’s phone are desperate for only one thing: oxygen. “We are getting 1,000 calls a day but we can only accommodate 10 to 15 cylinders a day, that’s it,” said Arora. “It’s very painful – people are calling and crying down the phone, pleading for oxygen all through the night.” Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Study in England says single treatment can have dramatic impact on curbing spread ; Fiji fears ‘Covid tsunami’ after India variant outbreak; New Zealand donates $1m; Mutations, politics, vaccines: the factors behind India’s Covid crisis Harry and Meghan to join Biden at concert to boost global vaccination Global faith leaders call for drug firms to vaccinate world See all our coronavirus coverage 4.42am BST New Zealand is donating NZ$1m (US$720,000) to assist with the ongoing Covid-19 crisis in India. “We stand in solidarity with India at this difficult time, and commend the tireless efforts of India’s frontline medics and healthcare workers who are working hard to save lives,” foreign minister Nanaia Mahuta said. 4.35am BST Good morning/afternoon/evening wherever you are. I’m Martin Farrer and welcome to the Guardian’s live blogging of the coronavirus pandemic. The situation in India once again dominates our coverage as the Covid crisis in the country continues to worsen:

Covid-19 outbreak in Pacific nation has forced lockdowns across the country, after the island nation avoided transmission for a year Fijian health officials are bracing for a “tsunami” of Covid-19 cases, after the Indian variant was detected in the Pacific nation this week, with lockdowns announced in an attempt to stem the outbreak. The Pacific country had largely managed to avoid community transmission over the course of the pandemic , before a cluster emerged this month linked to a quarantine facility, and exacerbated after a woman with the virus attended a funeral with 500 people. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

US’s top infectious disease expert lambasts wealthy countries for failing to provide equitable access to coronavirus vaccines Families of Australians caught in India Covid surge plead for repatriation Why Australia is under pressure to upgrade advice on aerosol transmission WHO blames ‘perfect storm’ of factors for India Covid crisis Dr Anthony Fauci, the White House’s chief medical adviser, has said countries have failed to unite to provide an adequate global response to prevent the “tragic” coronavirus outbreak from overwhelming India, and singled out wealthier nations for failing to provide equitable access to healthcare around the world. Speaking to Guardian Australia from the US, Fauci said the situation in India had highlighted global inequality. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Grieving relatives of the dead forced to wait hours for a funeral pyre amid an explosion of new Covid cases Crematoriums in Delhi are being inundated with so many bodies that they have been forced to build makeshift funeral pyres on spare patches of land as the Covid crisis sweeping India led to an explosion of new cases . Crematoriums across the capital are struggling to cope, with grieving relatives forced to wait up to 20 hours for a funeral pyre for their loved ones. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Joe Biden set to announce loosening of federal advice Fox News labelled ‘dangerous’ for primetime monologue Joe Biden is expected on Tuesday to announce a loosening of federal guidance on mask-wearing outdoors, as the coronavirus pandemic recedes. Related: Tucker Carlson: US journalists are ‘cowards’ and ‘cringing animals’ Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Bank is able to release $435m of $8.8bn it put aside to cover bad debts in Covid crisis last year Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage HSBC reported $5.8bn in first-quarter profit, a near-80% jump, as improving economic forecasts allowed the bank to release hundreds of millions of pounds of bad debt provisions made to cover potential defaults linked to the Covid crisis. Executives said they were still cautious but feeling more optimistic than in February, partly owing to the success of vaccine rollouts in big markets including the UK. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Exclusive: almost 150 religious heads say ‘every person is precious’ as they demand end to vaccine nationalism Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Faith leaders are calling on states and pharmaceutical companies to produce and distribute enough vaccines to immunise the entire global population against Covid-19, saying there is a “moral obligation” to reach everyone. Almost 150 religious leaders from around the world – including Rowan Williams, the former archbishop of Canterbury, Thabo Makgoba, the Anglican archbishop of Cape Town, and Cardinal Peter Turkson of the Roman Catholic church – are urging an end to vaccine nationalism. The Dalai Lama is also supporting the campaign. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Chief executive sends email stating ‘you are safe in bubble’ Eleven England players still remain in Covid-crisis country Cricketers at the ongoing Indian Premier League have been told they are playing for “humanity” and remain “totally safe” within the confines of the tournament’s biosecure bubble as organisers look to stave off further departures. The IPL’s continuation during India’s huge second wave of Covid-19, with daily recorded cases topping 350,000 in the past week, is coming under scrutiny after Ravichandran Ashwin and three Australians – Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson and Andrew Tye – opted to leave their franchises. Continue reading... Coronavirus | The Guardian

Future generations will condemn the richest countries if they don’t use their power to make vaccines universally available Rowan Williams is the chair of Christian Aid and a former archbishop of Canterbury Until the later part of the 19th century, what we regard today as the fundamentals of public health were mostly unknown. Clean water and public sanitation systems in cities, access to basic professional support for women in childbirth, hygiene in hospitals and operating theatres – all these and many more such provisions took time to arrive on the scene in Europe and North America, and it often took a disastrous epidemic, or a massive loss of life that could be correlated with the lack of these provisions, to spur reformers and governments to take the necessary measures. Future generations will look back with incredulity at our failure so far to do what is necessary for global public health in the course of this pandemic. We know that certain groups, such as frontline workers and